Removing barriers to breatfeeding

“Do you think it might be possible to do an article on breastfeeding by mothers with a disability?” When Joanna Downes asked DPPI this question, we asked for her thoughts on the subject. Here are some of the points that Joanna raised.

My main question is – do deaf mothers get the right support and information on breastfeeding?

Out of about 30 deaf mothers, I have only met one who breastfed her baby. This seems to me to be appalling. Is it an issue of access to information for deaf mothers on the benefits and importance of breastfeeding? Or is it an issue for all disabled mothers?

I feel very strongly about this because society as a whole seems these days to regard the choice of breastfeeding or formula as a light-hearted decision, such as “Oh, I want to sleep at night”. I get the feeling that breastfeeding is now becoming some sort of a taboo or an inconvenient or shameful thing.

When I got pregnant, just like most other mums, I was excited and wanted to read all the baby magazines and find out everything I could about what I should eat and how my baby was growing inside me. It had never occurred to me to do anything else but feed my baby from my own breasts. However, when I started telling other deaf women that I was pregnant and how I was looking forward to nursing the baby, I was astonished at the replies I received:

“You won’t get any sleep!”

“Bottle is good.”

“Midwife gave baby bottle, fine.”

“Your husband can give bottle.”

I spoke to one mother who said that when she woke up after giving birth, the midwife was giving her baby a bottle with no problems. I asked her whether she had wanted to breastfeed her baby immediately after she was born and she told me that she hadn’t thought about it. Another mother told me that she tried to get her baby to latch on soon after the birth but when the baby was having problems the midwife appeared with a bottle and the baby took the bottle straight away. “Perfect!” she said, “No problem. My nipples were so sore!” I asked her if she had spoken to a breastfeeding counsellor or asked for help from the midwife: she told me that she had never heard of a breastfeeding counsellor and she did not know the midwife could help. Another woman, an older mum who had three grown-up children, told me that if you breastfeed you have to do all the work and wake up all through the night with no break. I asked her if she knew about expressing milk so that her partner or family could help out. She said she did not know what expressing was and that it sounded painful.

None of the women I spoke to had any understanding about the benefits of breast milk.

The attitude of the deaf mothers I’ve met has been curious. None of them seemed to understand why I even bother to breastfeed my baby when I can use a bottle. Funnily enough, I went to a playgroup when my baby was about five months old and I was the only nursing mum among eight others (all hearing mums with no disabilities). They would all stare at me as if I was doing something completely unnatural.

Generally speaking, deaf mothers and mothers-to-be already experience a barrier to getting information and support because of potential communication difficulties or lack of deaf awareness from professionals. Going through a pregnancy and birth is stressful enough in itself for women with a disability, but it seems to me that deaf mothers definitely lack access to information and support to motivate and help them to breastfeed.

It is not my intention simply to criticise midwives or other health professionals who may be acting in good faith, thinking they are making things easier for the deaf mother by giving the baby a bottle. But with a bit of time, effort and patience, communication can be achieved to support the mother to breastfeed.

I met a breastfeeding counsellor and although she only signed a little, she was very patient and helpful with me and I found her a huge support. It is possible for deaf mothers to get information – only then can we make a fully informed choice about the health of our own babies.

Joanna Downes

Editorial comment

Joanna’s article highlights a problem about breastfeeding. Research suggests that 90% of UK mothers who stop breastfeeding by six weeks would have liked to have continued for longer. Most are believed to stop because of pain or concerns about insufficient milk – both of which are largely avoidable with the right information and support. Joanna points out that disabled mothers, including those who are deaf, often experience extra barriers and discouragement.

Campaigners for more support for breastfeeding mothers in the UK want a national breastfeeding strategy in England, overseen by a national infant feeding co-ordinator. Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland already have national co-ordinators and national breastfeeding strategies. They also want a law to protect a woman’s right to breastfeed in public in England. Such a law already exists in Scotland.

The campaign is backed by the National Childbirth Trust, the Royal College of Midwives, and the Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association.

Campaigners have demonstrated outside the Department of Health in Whitehall, presented a petition to Downing Street and lobbied Westminster. Supporters say there is clear evidence that a comprehensive national breastfeeding strategy would help to raise rates of breastfeeding. It is vital that this includes appropriate support for disabled mothers.

Next: Challenging the 'know-it-alls'